Editor ‘s Note: USS Chung-Hoon is participating in the Great Green Fleet, an initiative that highlights the Navy’s efforts to transform its energy use to increase operational capability.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Jan. 27 on a regularly scheduled Strike Group deployment to the western Pacific Ocean with the John C. Stennis Strike Group.

While deployed, Chung-Hoon and its crew of more than 300 Sailors will conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations.

The mission of Chung-Hoon is to conduct sustained combat operations at sea, provide primary protection for the Navy’s aircraft carriers and battle groups, as well as serve as escort to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces and auxiliary ships, and conduct independent operations as necessary.

“Departing on deployment is a significant event in the life of all Sailors,” said Cmdr. Tom M. Ogden, commanding officer of Chung-Hoon.

“Months of training, maintenance, and preparations all make a ship ready for deployed operations. The crew has succeeded at every task leading up to this and deployment will be the capstone of those tremendous efforts.”

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 Detachment 7, homeported at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, is scheduled to embark Chung-Hoon for the deployment. Detachment 7, known as “Paniolo,” is scheduled to deploy with a total of 28 personnel and two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, the U.S. navy’s primary anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare platform.

“I am very excited for the upcoming deployment on-board USS Chung-Hoon, and I am extremely proud of the ‘Paniolo’ pilots, aircrewmen, and maintainers for their hard work and preparation,” said Lt. Cmdr. Justin Eckhoff, HSM-37 Detachment 7’s officer-in-charge.

“We are motivated and ready to employ our two MH-60R helicopters in diverse mission areas, including anti- surface and anti-submarine warfare, in order to meet the tasking of our ship, air wing, or strike group commander.”

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